UFC 256 has lost another fight due to COVID-19.
This time it’s the heavyweights. The preliminary card fight between [autotag]Jared Vanderaa[/autotag] and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] has been canceled. Vanderaa (11-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) tested positive for COVID-19 and was subsequently removed from Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the cancellation to MMA Junkie on Thursday.
It is unclear at this time whether or not Spivac (11-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) will remain on the card. With weigh-ins less than 24 hours away, the UFC is certainly pressed for time in finding a replacement.
The cancellation marks the 11th publicly-known fight UFC 256 has lost.
Earlier this week the card lost three fights due to positive COVID-19 tests: Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill (Hill was later replaced by Sam Hughes), Karl Roberson vs. Dalcha Lungiambula, and Dwight Grant vs. Li Jingliang.
With the addition, here’s the updated lineup for UFC 256:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno
- Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira
- Rafael Fiziev vs. Renato Moicano
- Kevin Holland vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Junior Dos Santos vs. Ciryl Gane
PRELIMS (ESPN2, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
- Daniel Pineda vs. Cub Swanson
- Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba
- Billy Quarantillo vs. Gavin Tucker
- Tecia Torres vs. Sam Hughes
EARLY PRELIMS (ESPN2, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
- Serghei Spivac vs. TBA
- Peter Barrett vs. Chase Hooper